Fungicidal composition comprising a pyridylethylbenzamide derivative and a compound capable of inhibiting mitosis and cell division

ABSTRACT

A composition comprising at least a pyridylethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I) (a) and a compound capable of inhibiting mitosis and cell division (b) in a (a)/(b) weight ratio of from 0.01 to 20. 
     A composition further comprising an additional fungicidal compound. 
     A method for preventively or curatively combating the phytopathogenic fungi of crops by using this composition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 national phase conversion ofPCT/EP2005/002565 filed Feb. 10, 2005, which claims priority of EPApplication No. 04356018.4 filed Feb. 12, 2004, and U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/636,954 filed Dec. 17, 2004.

The present invention relates to novel fungicide compositions comprisinga pyridylethylbenzamide derivative and a compound capable of inhibitingmitosis and cell division. The present invention also relates to amethod of combating or controlling phytopathogenic fungi by applying ata locus infested or liable to be infested such a composition.

International patent application WO 01/11965 generically disclosesnumerous pyridylethylbenzamide derivatives. The possibility of combiningone or more of these numerous pyridylethylbenzamide derivatives withknown fungicidal products to develop a fungicidal activity is disclosedin general terms, without any specific example or biological data.

It is always of high-interest in agriculture to use novel pesticidalmixtures showing a synergistic effect in order notably to avoid or tocontrol the development of resistant strains to the active ingredientsor to the mixtures of known active ingredients used by the farmer whileminimising the doses of chemical products spread in the environment andreducing the cost of the treatment.

We have now found some novel fungicidal compositions which possess theabove mentioned characteristics.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a composition comprising:

-   a) a pyridylethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I)

in which:

-   -   p is an integer equal to 1, 2, 3 or 4;    -   q is an integer equal to 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;    -   each substituent X is chosen, independently of the others, as        being halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl;    -   each substituent Y is chosen, independently of the others, as        being halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy,        amino, phenoxy, alkylthio, dialkylamino, acyl, cyano, ester,        hydroxy, aminoalkyl, benzyl, haloalkoxy, halosulphonyl,        halothioalkyl, alkoxyalkenyl, alkylsulphonamide, nitro,        alkylsulphonyl, phenylsulphonyl or benzylsulphonyl;

-   as to the N-oxides of 2-pyridine thereof;    and

-   b) a compound capable of inhibiting mitosis and cell division;

-   in a (a)/(b) weight ratio of from 0.01 to 20.

In the context of the present invention:

-   -   halogen means chlorine, bromine, iodine or fluorine;    -   each of the alkyl or acyl radicals present in the molecule        contains from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 7        carbon atoms, more preferably from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and may        be linear or branched;    -   each of the alkenyl or alkynyl radicals present in the molecule        contains from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 7        carbon atoms, more preferably from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, and may        be linear or branched.

The composition according to the present invention provides asynergistic effect. This synergistic effect allows a reduction of thechemical substances spread into the environment and a reduction of thecost of the fungal treatment.

In the context of the present invention, the term “synergistic effect”is defined by Colby according to the article entitled “Calculation ofthe synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide combinations”Weeds, (1967), 15, pages 20-22.

The latter article mentions the formula:

$E = {x + y - \frac{x*y}{100}}$in which E represents the expected percentage of inhibition of thedisease for the combination of the two fungicides at defined doses (forexample equal to x and y respectively), x is the percentage ofinhibition observed for the disease by the compound (I) at a defineddose (equal to x), y is the percentage of inhibition observed for thedisease by the compound (II) at a defined dose (equal to y). When thepercentage of inhibition observed for the combination is greater than E,there is a synergistic effect.

The composition according to the present invention comprises apyridylethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I). Preferably, thepresent invention relates to a composition comprising apyridylethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I) in which thedifferent characteristics may be chosen alone or in combination asbeing:

-   -   as regards p, p is 2;    -   as regards q, q is 1 or 2. More preferably, q is 2;    -   as regards X, X is chosen, independently of the others, as being        halogen or haloalkyl. More preferably, X is chosen,        independently of the others, as being a chlorine atom or a        trifluoromethyl group;    -   as regards Y, Y is chosen, independently of the others, as being        halogen or haloalkyl. More preferably, Y is chosen,        independently of the others, as being a chlorine atom or a        trifluoromethyl group;

More preferably, the pyridylethylbenzamide derivative of general formula(I) present in the composition of the present invention is:

-   N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide    (compound 1);-   N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-iodobenzamide    (compound 2); or-   N-{2-[3,5-dichloro-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide    (compound 3).

Even more preferably, the pyridylethylbenzamide derivative of generalformula (I) present in the composition of the present invention isN-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide(compound 1).

The composition according to the present invention comprises a compoundcapable of inhibiting mitosis and cell division. Preferably, the presentinvention relates to a composition comprising a compound capable ofinhibiting mitosis and cell division selected from[5-Chloro-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-α]pyrimidin-7-yl]-((R)-1,2,2-trimethyl-propyl)-amine,[5-Chloro-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-α]pyrimidin-7-yl]-((R)-1,2-dimethyl-propyl)-amine,5-Chloro-7-(4-methyl-piperidin-1-yl)-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-α]pyrimidine,benzimidazole derivatives, thiophanate, thiophanate-methyl,diethofencarb, zoxamide or pencycuron.

According to the present invention, benzimidazole derivatives may forexample be benomyl, carbendazim, fuberidazole or thiabendazole.

The composition according to the present invention comprises (a) atleast a pyridylethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I) and (b)a compound capable of inhibiting mitosis and cell division in an (a)/(b)weight ratio of from 0.01 to 20; preferably of from 0.05 to 10; evenmore preferably, of from 0.1 to 5.

The composition of the present invention may further comprise at leastone other different fungicide active ingredient (c).

The fungicidal active ingredient (c) may be selected from azaconazole,azoxystrobin,(Z)-N-[α-(cyclopropylmethoxyimino)-2,3-difluoro-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]-2-phenylacetamide,benalaxyl, benomyl, benthiavalicarb, biphenyl, bitertanol,blasticidin-S, boscalid, borax, bromuconazole, bupirimate,sec-butylamine, calcium polysulfide, captafol, captan, carbendazim,carboxin, carpropamid, chinomethionat, chlorothalonil, chlozolinate,copper hydroxide, copper octanoate, copper oxychloride, copper sulfate,cuprous oxide, cyazofamid, cymoxanil, cyproconazole, cyprodinil,dazomet, debacarb, dichlofluanid, dichlorophen, diclobutrazole,diclocymet, diclomezine, dicloran, diethofencarb, difenoconazole,difenzoquat metilsulfate, difenzoquat, diflumetorim, dimethirimol,dimethomorph, diniconazole, dinobuton, dinocap, diphenylamine,dithianon, dodemorph, dodemorph acetate, dodine, edifenphos,epoxiconazole, etaconazole, ethaboxam, ethirimol, ethoxyquin,etridiazole, famoxadone, fenamidone, fenarimol, fenbuconazole, fenfuram,fenhexamid, fenpiclonil, fenoxanil, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, fentin,fentin hydroxide, fentin acetate, ferbam, ferimzone, fluazinam,fludioxonil, fluoroimide, fluoxastrobin, fluquinconazole, flusilazole,flusulfamide, flutolanil, flutriafol, folpet, formaldehyde, fosetyl,fosetyl-aluminium, fuberidazole, furalaxyl, furametpyr, guazatine,guazatine acetates, hexachlorobenzene, hexaconazole, 8-hydroxyquinolinesulfate, potassium hydroxyquinoline sulfate, hymexazol, imazalilsulfate, imazalil, imibenconazole, iminoctadine, iminoctadinetriacetate, ipconazole, iprobenfos, iprodione, iprovalicarb,isoprothiolane, kasugamycin, kasugamycin hydrochloride hydrate,kresoxim-methyl, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, mepanipyrim, mepronil,mercuric chloride, mercuric oxide, mercurous chloride, metalaxyl,metalaxyl-M, metam-sodium, metam, metconazole, methasulfocarb, methylisothiocyanate, metiram, metominostrobin, mildiomycin, myclobutanil,nabarn, nickel bis(dimethyldithiocarbamate), nitrothal-isopropyl,nuarimol, octhilinone, ofurace, oleic acid, oxadixyl, oxine-copper,oxpoconazole fumarate, oxycarboxin, pefurazoate, penconazole,pencycuron, pentachlorophenol, sodium pentachlorophenoxide,pentachlorophenyl laurate, phenylmercury acetate, sodium2-phenylphenoxide, 2-phenylphenol, phosphorous acid, phthalide,picoxystrobin, piperalin, polyoxinspolyoxin B, polyoxin, polyoxorim,probenazole, prochloraz, procymidone, propamocarb hydrochloride,propamocarb, propiconazole, propineb, prothioconazole, pyraclostrobin,pyrazophos, pyributicarb, pyrifenox, pyrimethanil, pyroquilon,quinoxyfen, quintozene, silthiofam, simeconazole, spiroxamine, sulfur,tar oils, tebuconazole, tecnazene, tetraconazole, thiabendazole,thifluzamide, thiophanate-methyl, thiram, tolclofos-methyl,tolylfluanid, triadimefon, triadimenol, triazoxide, tricyclazole,tridemorph, trifloxystrobin, triflumizole, triforine, triticonazole,validamycin, vinclozolin, zineb, ziram and, zoxamide.

Preferably, third fungicidal active ingredient (c) is selected fromiprodione and chlorotalonil.

Where the third active ingredient (c) as defined above is present in thecomposition, this compound may be present in an amount of (a):(b):(c)weight ratio of from 1:0.01:0.01 to 1:20:20; the ratios of compound (a)and compound (c) varying independently from each other. Preferably, the(a):(b):(c) weight ratio may be of from 1:0.05:0.05 to 1:10:10.

Following compositions may be cited to illustrate in a non-limitedmanner the present invention: compound 1 with[5-Chloro-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl]-((R)-1,2,2-trimethyl-propyl)-amine,compound 1 with[5-Chloro-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl]-((R)-1,2-dimethyl-propyl)-amine,compound 1 with5-Chloro-7-(4-methyl-piperidin-1-yl)-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine,compound 1 with thiophanate, compound 1 with thiophanate-methyl,compound 1 with diethofencarb, compound 1 with zoxamide, compound 1 withpencycuron, compound 1 with benomyl, compound 1 with carbendazim,compound 1 with fuberidazole, compound 1 with thiabendazole, compound 2with[5-Chloro-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-α]pyrimidin-7-yl]-((R)-1,2,2-trimethyl-propyl)-amine,compound 2 with[5-Chloro-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl]-((R)-1,2-dimethyl-propyl)-amine,compound 2 with5-Chloro-7-(4-methyl-piperidin-1-yl)-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine,compound 2 with thiophanate, compound 2 with thiophanate-methyl,compound 2 with diethofencarb, compound 2 with zoxamide, compound 2 withpencycuron, compound 2 with benomyl, compound 2 with carbendazim,compound 2 with fuberidazole, compound 2 with thiabendazole, compound 3with[5-Chloro-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl]-((R)-1,2,2-trimethyl-propyl)-amine,compound 3 with[5-Chloro-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl]-((R)-1,2-dimethyl-propyl)-amine,compound 3 with5-Chloro-7-(4-methyl-piperidin-1-yl)-6-(2,4,6-trifluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine,compound 3 with thiophanate, compound 3 with thiophanate-methyl,compound 3 with diethofencarb, compound 3 with zoxamide, compound 3 withpencycuron, compound 3 with benomyl, compound 3 with carbendazim,compound 3 with fuberidazole, compound 3 with thiabendazole.

The composition according to the present invention may further comprisean other additional component such as an agriculturally acceptablesupport, carrier or filler.

In the present specification, the term “support” denotes a natural orsynthetic, organic or inorganic material with which the active materialis combined to make it easier to apply, notably to the parts of theplant. This support is thus generally inert and should be agriculturallyacceptable. The support may be a solid or a liquid. Examples of suitablesupports include clays, natural or synthetic silicates, silica, resins,waxes, solid fertilisers, water, alcohols, in particular butanol,organic solvents, mineral and plant oils and derivatives thereof.Mixtures of such supports may also be used.

The composition may also comprise other additional components. Inparticular, the composition may further comprise a surfactant. Thesurfactant can be an emulsifier, a dispersing agent or a wetting agentof ionic or non-ionic type or a mixture of such surfactants. Mention maybe made, for example, of polyacrylic acid salts, lignosulphonic acidsalts, phenolsulphonic or naphthalenesulphonic acid salts,polycondensates of ethylene oxide with fatty alcohols or with fattyacids or with fatty amines, substituted phenols (in particularalkylphenols or arylphenols), salts of sulphosuccinic acid esters,taurine derivatives (in particular alkyl taurates), phosphoric esters ofpolyoxyethylated alcohols or phenols, fatty acid esters of polyols, andderivatives of the above compounds containing sulphate, sulphonate andphosphate functions. The presence of at least one surfactant isgenerally essential when the active material and/or the inert supportare water-insoluble and when the vector agent for the application iswater. Preferably, surfactant content may be comprised between 5% and40% by weight of the composition.

Additional components may also be included, e.g. protective colloids,adhesives, thickeners, thixotropic agents, penetration agents,stabilisers, sequestering agents. More generally, the active materialscan be combined with any solid or liquid additive, which complies withthe usual formulation techniques.

In general, the composition according to the invention may contain from0.05 to 99% (by weight) of active material, preferably 10% to 70% byweight.

Compositions according to the present invention can be used in variousforms such as aerosol dispenser, capsule suspension, cold foggingconcentrate, dustable powder, emulsifiable concentrate, emulsion oil inwater, emulsion water in oil, encapsulated granule, fine granule,flowable concentrate for seed treatment, gas (under pressure), gasgenerating product, granule, hot fogging concentrate, macrogranule,microgranule, oil dispersible powder, oil miscible flowable concentrate,oil miscible liquid, paste, plant rodlet, powder for dry seed treatment,seed coated with a pesticide, soluble concentrate, soluble powder,solution for seed treatment, suspension concentrate (flowableconcentrate), ultra low volume (ulv) liquid, ultra low volume (ulv)suspension, water dispersible granules or tablets, water dispersiblepowder for slurry treatment, water soluble granules or tablets, watersoluble powder for seed treatment and wettable powder.

These compositions include not only compositions which are ready to beapplied to the plant or seed to be treated by means of a suitabledevice, such as a spraying or dusting device, but also concentratedcommercial compositions which must be diluted before they are applied tothe crop.

The fungicidal compositions of the present invention can be used tocuratively or preventively control phytopathogenic fungi of crops. Thus,according to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for preventively or curatively controllingphytopathogenic fungi of crops characterised in that a fungicidalcomposition as hereinbefore defined is applied to the seed, the plantand/or to the fruit of the plant or to the soil in which the plant isgrowing or in which it is desired to grow.

The composition as used against phytopathogenic fungi of crops comprisesan effective and non-phytotoxic amount of an active material of generalformula (I).

The expression “effective and non-phytotoxic amount” means an amount ofcomposition according to the invention which is sufficient to control ordestroy the fungi present or liable to appear on the crops, and whichdoes not entail any appreciable symptom of phytotoxicity for the saidcrops. Such an amount can vary within a wide range depending on thefungus to be combated or controlled, the type of crop, the climaticconditions and the compounds included in the fungicidal compositionaccording to the invention.

This amount can be determined by systematic field trials, which arewithin the capabilities of a person skilled in the art.

The method of treatment according to the present invention is useful totreat propagation material such as tubers or rhizomes, but also seeds,seedlings or seedlings pricking out and plants or plants pricking out.This method of treatment can also be useful to treat roots. The methodof treatment according to the present invention can also be useful totreat the overground parts of the plant such as trunks, stems or stalks,leaves, flowers and fruits of the concerned plant.

Among the plants that can be protected by the method according to theinvention, mention may be made of cotton; flax; vine; fruit crops suchas Rosaceae sp. (for instance pip fruits such as apples and pears, butalso stone fruits such as apricots, almonds and peaches), Ribesioidaesp., Juglandaceae sp., Betulaceae sp., Anacardiaceae sp., Fagaceae sp.,Moraceae sp., Oleaceae sp., Actinidaceae sp., Lauraceae sp., Musaceaesp. (for instance banana trees and plantins), Rubiaceae sp., Theaceaesp., Sterculiceae sp., Rutaceae sp. (for instance lemons, oranges andgrapefruits); leguminous crops such as Solanaceae sp. (for instancetomatoes), Liliaceae sp., Asteraceae sp. (for instance lettuces),Umbelliferae sp., Cruciferae sp., Chenopodiaceae sp., Cucurbitaceae sp.,Papilionaceae sp. (for instance peas), Rosaceae sp. (for instancestrawberries); big crops such as Graminae sp. (for instance maize,cereals such as wheat, rice, barley and triticale), Asteraceae sp. (forinstance sunflower), Cruciferae sp. (for instance colza), Papilionaceaesp. (for instance soja), Solanaceae sp. (for instance potatoes),Chenopodiaceae sp. (for instance beetroots); horticultural and forestcrops; as well as genetically modified homologues of these crops.

Among the plants and the possible diseases of these plants protected bythe method according to the present invention, mention may be made of:

-   -   wheat, as regards controlling the following seed diseases:        fusaria (Microdochium nivale and Fusarium roseum), stinking smut        (Tilletia caries, Tilletia controversa or Tilletia indica),        septoria disease (Septoria nodorum) and loose smut;    -   wheat, as regards controlling the following diseases of the        aerial parts of the plant: cereal eyespot (Tapesia yallundae,        Tapesia acuiformis), take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis), foot        blight (F. culmorum, F. graminearum), black speck (Rhizoctonia        cerealis), powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis forma specie        tritici), rusts (Puccinia striiformis and Puccinia recondita)        and septoria diseases (Septoria tritici and Septoria nodorum);    -   wheat and barley, as regards controlling bacterial and viral        diseases, for example barley yellow mosaic;    -   barley, as regards controlling the following seed diseases: net        blotch (Pyrenophora graminea, Pyrenophora teres and Cochliobolus        sativus), loose smut (Ustilago nuda) and fusaria (Microdochium        nivale and Fusarium roseum);    -   barley, as regards controlling the following diseases of the        aerial parts of the plant: cereal eyespot (Tapesia yallundae),        net blotch (Pyrenophora teres and Cochliobolus sativus), powdery        mildew (Erysiphe graminis forma specie hordei), dwarf leaf rust        (Puccinia hordei) and leaf blotch (Rhynchosporium secalis);    -   potato, as regards controlling tuber diseases (in particular        Helminthosporium solani, Phoma tuberosa, Rhizoctonia solani,        Fusarium solani), mildew (Phytopthora infestans) and certain        viruses (virus Y);    -   potato, as regards controlling the following foliage diseases:        early blight (Alternaria solani), mildew (Phytophthora        infestans);    -   cotton, as regards controlling the following diseases of young        plants grown from seeds: damping-off and collar rot (Rhizoctonia        solani, Fusarium oxysporum) and black root rot (Thielaviopsis        basicola);    -   protein yielding crops, for example peas, as regards controlling        the following seed diseases: anthracnose (Ascochyta pisi,        Mycosphaerella pinodes), fusaria (Fusarium oxysporum), grey        mould (Botrytis cinerea) and mildew (Peronospora pisi);    -   oil-bearing crops, for example rape, as regards controlling the        following seed diseases: Phoma lingam, Alternaria brassicae and        Sclerotinia sclerotiorum;    -   corn, as regards controlling seed diseases: (Rhizopus sp.,        Penicillium sp., Trichoderma sp., Aspergillus sp., and        Gibberella fujikuroi);    -   flax, as regards controlling the seed disease: Alternaria        linicola;    -   forest trees, as regards controlling damping-off (Fusarium        oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani);    -   rice, as regards controlling the following diseases of the        aerial parts: blast disease (Magnaporthe grisea), bordered        sheath spot (Rhizoctonia solani);    -   leguminous crops, as regards controlling the following diseases        of seeds or of young plants grown from seeds: damping-off and        collar rot (Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium roseum, Rhizoctonia        solani, Pythium sp.);    -   leguminous crops, as regards controlling the following diseases        of the aerial parts: grey mould (Botrytis sp.), powdery mildews        (in particular Erysiphe cichoracearum, Sphaerotheca fuliginea        and Leveillula taurica), fusaria (Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium        roseum), leaf spot (Cladosporium sp.), alternaria leaf spot        (Alternaria sp.), anthracnose (Colletotrichum sp.), septoria        leaf spot (Septoria sp.), black speck (Rhizoctonia solani),        mildews (for example Bremia lactucae, Peronospora sp.,        Pseudoperonospora sp., Phytophthora sp.);    -   fruit trees, as regards diseases of the aerial parts: monilia        disease (Monilia fructigenae; M. laxa), scab (Venturia        inaequalis), powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha);    -   vine, as regards diseases of the foliage: in particular grey        mould (Botrylis cinerea), powdery mildew (Uncinula necator),        black rot (Guignardia biwelli) and mildew (Plasmopara viticola);    -   beetroot, as regards the following diseases of the aerial parts:        cercospora blight (Cercospora beticola), powdery mildew        (Erysiphe beticola), leaf spot (Ramularia beticola).

The fungicidal composition according to the present invention may alsobe used against fungal diseases liable to grow on or inside timber. Theterm “timber” means all types of species of wood, and all types ofworking of this wood intended for construction, for example solid wood,high-density wood, laminated wood, and plywood. The method for treatingtimber according to the invention mainly consists in contacting one ormore compounds of the present invention, or a composition according tothe invention; this includes for example direct application, spraying,dipping, injection or any other suitable means.

The fungicidal composition according to the present invention may alsobe used in the treatment of genetically modified organisms with thecompounds according to the invention or the agrochemical compositionsaccording to the invention. Genetically modified plants are plants intoin which genome a heterologous gene encoding a protein of interest hasbeen stably integrated. The expression “heterologous gene encoding aprotein of interest” essentially means genes which give the transformedplant new agronomic properties, or genes for improving the agronomicquality of the transformed plant.

The dose of active material usually applied in the treatment accordingto the present invention is generally and advantageously between 10 and2000 g/ha, preferably between 20 and 1500 g/ha for applications infoliar treatment. The dose of active substance applied is generally andadvantageously between 1 and 200 g per 100 kg of seed, preferablybetween 2 and 150 g per 100 kg of seed in the case of seed treatment. Itis clearly understood that the doses indicated above are given asillustrative examples of the invention. A person skilled in the art willknow how to adapt the application doses according to the nature of thecrop to be treated.

The compositions according to the present invention may also be usedfore the preparation of composition useful to curatively or preventivelytreat human and animal fungal diseases such as, for example, mycoses,dermatoses, trichophyton diseases and candidiases or diseases caused byAspergillus spp. or Candida spp., for example Aspergillus fumigatus orCandida albicans respectively.

The present invention will now be illustrated with the followingexample:

EXAMPLE 1 Efficacy Against Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici of aComposition ContainingN-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide(Compound 1) and Carbendazim

The active ingredients tested are prepared by potter homogenisation in amixture of acetone/tween/water. This suspension is then diluted withwater to obtain the desired active material concentration.

Wheat plants (Audace variety) in starter cups, sown on 50/50 peatsoil-pozzolana substrate and grown at 12° C., are treated at the 1-leafstage (10 cm tall) by spraying with the aqueous suspension describedabove.

Plants, used as controls, are treated with an aqueous solution notcontaining the active material.

After 24 hours, the plants are contaminated by dusting them withErysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici spores, the dusting being carried outusing diseased plants.

Grading is carried out 7 to 14 days after the contamination, incomparison with the control plants.

The following table summarises the results obtained when tested compound1 and carbendazim alone and in a 1:1 weight ratio mixture.

Dose Synergism (g/ha) % Efficacy (Colby) Compound 1 62.5 42 — 125 63 —Carbendazim 62.5 0 — 125 16 — Compound 1 + carbendazim 62.5 + 62.5 53+11 (Ratio 1:1) 125 + 125 79 +10

According to the Colby method, a synergistic effect of the mixturestested has been observed.

1. A composition comprising: (a) a pyridylethylbenzamide derivative ofgeneral formula (I)

in which: p is an integer equal to 1, 2, 3 or 4; q is an integer equalto 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; each substituent X is chosen, independently of theothers, as being halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl; each substituent Y ischosen, independently of the others, as being halogen, alkyl, orhaloalkyl; as to the N-oxides of 2-pyridine thereof; and (b) a compoundcapable of inhibiting mitosis and cell division selected from the groupconsisting of benzimidazole derivatives; in an (a)/(b) weight ratio offrom 0.01 to
 20. 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein p is
 2. 3. Thecomposition of claim 1 wherein q is
 2. 4. The composition of claim 1wherein each X is independently selected from the group consisting ofhalogen and haloalkyl.
 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein each X isindependently selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom anda trifluoromethyl group.
 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein each Y isindependently selected from the group consisting of halogen andhaloalkyl.
 7. The composition of claim 1 wherein each Y is independentlyselected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom and atrifluoromethyl group.
 8. The composition of claim 1 wherein thecompound of general formula (I) is selected from the group consistingof: N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide;N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl }-2-iodobenzamide;and N-{2-[3,5-dichloro-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide. 9.The composition of claim 8 wherein the compound of general formula (I)is N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide.
 10. The composition of claim 1 wherein thebenzimidazole derivative is selected from the group consisting ofbenomyl, carbendazim, fuberidazole and thiabendazole.
 11. Thecomposition of claim 1 further comprising a fungicidal compound (c). 12.The composition of claim 11 wherein the fungicidal compound (c) isselected from the group consisting of iprodione and chlorothalonil. 13.A composition comprising: (a)N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide;and (b) a compound capable of inhibiting mitosis and cell divisionselected from the group consisting of benomyl, carbendazim, fuberidazoleand thiabendazole; in an (a)/(b) weight ratio of from 0.01 to
 20. 14.The composition of claim 13 further comprising an agriculturallyacceptable support, carrier, filler and/or surfactant.
 15. A method forpreventively or curatively controlling phytopathogenic fungi of cropscomprising applying an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of acomposition according claim 13 to the seed, the plant and/or to thefruit of the plant or to the soil in which the plant is growing or inwhich it is desired to grow.
 16. The composition of claim 13 wherein (b)is carbendazim.
 17. The composition of claim 13 further comprising afungicidal compound (c) selected from the group consisting of iprodioneand chlorothalonil.
 18. The composition of claim 16 in an (a)/(b) weightratio of 1:1.
 19. The composition of claim 16 further comprising afungicidal compound (c) selected from the group consisting of iprodioneand chlorothalonil.